There’s always been much to be cautious about in the gym: avoiding injuries, staying hydrated, taking a rest between sets. But nowadays, lurking beyond the dumbbell rack, there’s often a more troubling issue: “fitfluencers” setting up tripods to film their squats and lunges.

These fitness influencers aren’t your average gym-goers — the women have immaculate ponytails, the men impeccably carved torsos. They wear skintight matching kits, and their tanned skin tends to glow rather than sweat. Entering their proximity is a risky affair: you can easily be caught straining under a deadlift in the background of a TikTok video, or have your treadmill technique critiqued on someone’s Instagram story.

Gym etiquette has long been a challenge, because gyms are such odd and artificial places,